At the Y, healthy means active, nourished, and safe.

New York City’s more than 8 million residents face pressing and varied health and wellness challenges, including obesity, heart disease, diabetes, substance abuse, and social isolation. Every day, our members show us what’s possible in the face of those challenges. We provide the tools and resources, and they bring the effort and action. In the weight room, pool, kitchen, fitness class, community market, counseling centers, and our gathering spaces, every member gets the chance to be who they want to be, with others who are doing the same. Here’s how our focus on health will shape our efforts for the next three years.

Our Priorities

Preventive Health & Well-Being

• Healthy New Yorkers are active.
• Healthy New Yorkers are nourished.

Water Safety & Drowning Prevention

• Healthy New Yorkers are safe.

The Y gives New Yorkers of all ages places to go and act with purpose.

People crave connection and engagement in local, physical spaces. For 175 years, the Y has been giving people a convenient place to come to and connect with intention, and that space has never felt more crucial than right now. What does it look like in practice? Teens huddled around a table working on a composting project. Neighbors coming together to register voters. Families, from grandparents to grandkids, volunteering together to improve their communities. At the Y we know providing safe, reliable spaces and purposeful, collective activity can change lives, and so for the next three years, that’s what we’re going to do.

Our Priorities

Safe & Engaging Spaces

• Engaged New Yorkers of every age have places to go.

Civic Engagement & Advocacy

• Engaged New Yorkers act with purpose.

We give every New Yorker the tools they need for college, career, and connections.

Over nearly two centuries, the Y has been helping New Yorkers feel empowered to take the next step in their life, whether that’s going to college, learning a new language, getting a job, or finding housing. With decades of proven impact, we know the key to moving forward is feeling prepared and feeling welcome. When you experience the support and resources of the Y, college, career, and just about anything else feel within reach. Over the next three years, we’re going to put extra focus on our support of three important communities—teens, older adults, and immigrants—to make sure every New Yorker feels ready to succeed.

Our Priorities

Connecting Teens

• Empowering young people with preparation and experience.

Older Adult Programming

• Empowering older adults with access and education.

New Americans Initiative

• Empowering immigrants and refugees with education and connections.